Method of producing alpha2 antagonism

ABSTRACT

Method of producing alpha 2  antagonism by administering thiadiazolo- and oxadiazolotetrahydroisoquinoline compounds.

This invention relates to a method of producing alpha₂ antagonism by employing thiadiazolo- and oxadiazolotetrahydroisoquinoline compounds. This pharmacological action is associated with antidepressant activity.

These compounds are known and have been reported as inhibitors of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase in U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,049.

The catecholamine theory of depression is that the depression is associated with a lack of norepinephrine in the synaptic cleft of central noradrenergic neurons resulting in inadequate activation of postsynaptic receptors. The compounds of this invention are capable of increasing norepinephrine levels in the synaptic cleft by two mechanisms:

Blockade of presynaptic alpha₂ -receptors located on noradrenergic nerve terminals enhances the amount of transmitter released per impulse. In addition, the firing rate of the noradrenaline-containing cell bodies in the locus coeruleus is also inhibited by a feedback mechanism mediated by an alpha₂ -receptor. Blockade of this inhibitory alpha₂ -receptor by an antagonist increases the firing rate of locus coeruleus neurons which enhances the norepinephrine release onto target neurons. Thus antagonism of the alpha₂ -adrenoceptor presents a novel biphasic approach to increasing synaptic noradrenaline levels in the brain. This increase in central noradrenergic activity will result in an antidepressant effect.

The compounds of the method of this invention are direct acting alpha₂ antagonists and may exist as isomers. It is the intent of this invention to include all possible isomers. These isomers, which are the active ingredients of the pharmaceutical compositions employed in the method of this invention, are illustrated by the following formulas: ##STR1## in which: Y is sulfur or oxygen;

when Y is sulfur, X is hydrogen, halogen, or trifluoromethyl and R and R₁ are hydrogen or lower alkyl of from one to three carbon atoms;

when Y is oxygen, X, R and R₁ are hydrogen;

and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof.

Compounds represented by Formula I, when Y is sulfur R is lower alkyl and X and R₁ are hydrogen, are prepared by the following procedure: ##STR2##

As shown above, the properly substituted 7-chloro-8-nitroisoquinoline is reacted with benzyl mercaptan to yield the corresponding 7-benzylthio derivative. The benzylthio compound is then reduced with, for example, diborane and acylated to the corresponding N-acetyl tetrahydroisoquinoline. The nitro moiety is then reduced to the amine and cyclization is accomplished by diazotizing and treating the diazonium salt with cuprous chloride and hydrochloric acid. The acetyl group is then hydrolyzed.

Compounds of Formulas III or IV where Y is sulfur are prepared from 2-acetyl-6-chloro or 2-acetyl-7-chloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline by nitration and treatment with benzylmercaptan to yield the respective benzylthio compounds which are further converted by the methods shown in Scheme I, to give the desired thiadiazolo compounds.

Alternatively, compounds of Formulas I or II where Y is sulfur may be made from 8-amino- or 7-aminoisoquinoline, respectively, by treatment with sulfur monochloride to give a dithiazolo compound which is treated with nitrous acid to yield the desired thiadiazolo compound which is reduced, with, for example, sodium cyanoborohydride as disclosed below. ##STR3##

Compounds of Formulas V and VI where Y is sulfur are prepared by treating 6-amino- or 5-aminoisoquinoline with sulfur momochloride followed by nitrous acid as shown in Scheme II.

The compounds where X is halogen are prepared by treating 5-amino or 8-aminoisoquinoline with sulfur monochloride (Scheme II). This results in the introduction of a chloro substituent into the vacant para-position to yield 5-chloro-[1,2,3]thiadiazolo[4,5-f]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline and 5-chloro-[1,2,3]-thiadiazolo-[5,4-h]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline respectively.

Compounds of Formulas I-VI where R₁ is lower alkyl may be made by treatment of the tetrahydroisoquinoline product where R₁ is hydrogen with the appropriate aldehyde and a reducing agent such as sodium cyanoborohydride.

The trifluoromethyl or halo derivatives may also be made by use of appropriately substituted starting materials and employing the procedures of Scheme II. For example, 7-amino-8-trifluoromethylisoquinoline and 7-amino-8-chloroisoquinoline are converted to 4-trifluoromethyl-[1,2,3]-thiadiazolo-[5,4-g]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinoline and 4-chloro-[1,2,3]-thiadiazolo[5,4-g]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinoline.

Oxadiazolotetrahydroisoquinolines of Formula I and II, where Y is oxygen, are prepared from 2-acetyl-8(7)-amino-7(8)-chloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline and Formulas III and IV are prepared from 2-acetyl-7(6)-amino-6(7)-chloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline by diazotization and neutralization of the resulting solution to form the oxadiazolo moiety. The acetyl group is removed by hydrolysis.

The nontoxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts of the compounds of Formulas I-VI are similarly useful as the free bases. Such salts are easily prepared by methods known to the art. The base is treated with an organic or inorganic acid in aqueous miscible solvent, such as acetone or ethanol, with isolation of the salt by concentration and cooling or in aqueous immiscible solvent, such as ethyl ether or chloroform, with the desired salt separating directly. Exemplary of the salts which are included in this invention are maleate, fumarate, benzoate, ascorbate, pamoate, succinate, bismethylenesalicylate, methanesulfonate, ethanedisulfonate, benzenesulfonate, acetate, propionate, tartrate, salicylate, citrate, gluconate, lactate, malate, mandelate, cinnamate, citraconate, aspartate, stearate, palmitate, itaconate, glycolate, p-aminobenzoate, glutamate, theophylline acetates, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, sulfate, cyclohexylsulfamate, phosphate and nitrate salts.

The activity of the compounds of Formulas I-VI is demonstrated in vitro by determining the prejunctional alpha₂ -antagonist activity using the isolated superfused guinea pig left atrium. Briefly, the heart is removed from a pentobarbitol-anesthetized male guinea pig. The left atrium is removed, dissected free of extraneous tissue and mounted in a 2 ml. superfusion chamber. The tissue is paced at 60 pulse/minute and the sympathetic nerves excited at 6 minute intervals by field stimulation. The response to nerve stimulation is measured as the difference in contractile force between the basal contraction and peak contraction following a nerve stimulation. A concentration-response curve for clonidine (alpha₂ -agonist) is prepared by administering increasing concentration of clonidine following each successive stimulation. The tissue is then superfused with the alpha₂ -antagonist to be tested for thirty minutes and the clonidine concentration-effect curve was repeated in the presence of antagonist. The receptor dissociation constant of the antagonist (K_(B)) is defined as the antagonist concentration required to shift the log concentration-response curve of the agonist to the right by a factor of 2.

Selectivity for the alpha₂ vis-a-vis the alpha₁ -adrenoceptor was determined by comparing the K_(B) obtained as described above with the K_(B) on the alpha₁ receptor determined in the rabbit ear artery segment as an antagonist of the constrictor response induced by norepinephrine. (Hieble and Pendleton, Arch. Pharmacol., 309, 217-224 (1979))

A preferred compound of this invention is [1,2,3]thiadiazolo[5,4-h]6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride which has a K_(B) value in the isolated perfused guinea pig left atrium of 220 nM.

The pharmaceutical compositions used to carry out the method of producing alpha₂ antagonism comprise a pharmaceutical carrier and, as the active ingredient, a tetrahydroisoquinoline compound of Formulas I-VI. The active ingredient will be present in the compositions in an effective amount to produce alpha₂ antagonism.

Preferably, the compositions contain the active ingredient of Formula I in an amount of from about 50 mg. to about 1000 mg., advantageously from about 100 mg. to about 500 mg., per dosage unit.

The pharmaceutical carrier may be for example a solid or a liquid. Exemplary of solid carriers are lactose, magnesium stearate, terra alba, sucrose, talc, stearic acid, gelatin, agar, pectin or acacia. The amount of solid carrier will vary widely but preferably will be from about 25 mg. to about 1 gm. Exemplary of liquid carriers are syrup, peanut oil, olive oil, sesame oil, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol (mol. wt. 200-400) and water. The carrier or diluent may include a time delay material well known to the art such as, for example, glyceryl monostearate or glyceryl distearate alone or with a wax.

A wide variety of pharmaceutical forms can be employed, for example, the preparation may take the form of tablets, capsules, powders, troches, lozenges, syrups, emulsions, sterile injectable liquids or liquid suspensions or solutions.

The pharmaceutical compositions are prepared by conventional techniques involving procedures such as mixing, granulating and compressing or dissolving the ingredients as appropriate to the desired preparation.

The method of producing alpha₂ antagonism according to this invention comprises administering to an animal in an amount sufficient to produce alpha₂ antagonism a tetrahydroisoquinoline compound of Formula I-VI.

Preferably, the compounds of Formula I-VI are administered in conventional dosage unit forms prepared by combining an appropriate dose of the compound with standard pharmaceutical carriers.

Preferably, the active ingredient of Formula I-VI will be administered in a daily dosage regimen of from about 100 mg. to about 2000 mg., most preferably from about 200 mg. to about 1000 mg. Advantageously, equal doses will be administered preferably two to three times per day. When the administration is carried out as described above, alpha₂ antagonist activity is produced.

The route of administration of the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention and in accordance with the methods of this invention is internal, either parenteral or preferably oral, in an amount to produce the desired biological activity.

The following examples are not limiting but are illustrative of the compounds of this invention and processes for their preparation.

EXAMPLE 1

A mixture of 0.52 g. (2.5 mmole) of 7-chloro-8-nitroisoquinoline and 0.317 g. (2.56 mmole) of benzyl mercaptan in 5 ml. of degassed isopropanol under argon at 0° C. was treated with 0.16 g. (2.5 mmole) of 86% KOH in 2 ml. of ethanol dropwise over fifteen minutes. The mixture was stirred for one hour at 25° C. and filtered. The collected product was washed with water and ethanol and then dried to yield 7-benzylthio-8-nitroisoquinoline having a melting point of 151°-153° C.

A solution of 15 g. (0.051 mole) of 7-benzylthio-8-nitroisoquinoline in 100 ml. of tetrahydrofuran was added to 210 ml. of 1 M borane-tetrahydrofuran (0.21 mole). The mixture was stirred and refluxed for five hours. Methanol was added and the mixture evaporated in vacuo. The residue was treated with refluxing 12 N HCl for 15 hours, then evaporated to dryness. The resulting solid was recrystallized from methanol-ether to give 7-benzylthio-8-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride having a melting point of 253° C. with decomposition.

A mixture of 17.5 g. (0.052 mole) of 7-benzylthio-8-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride, 15 ml. of acetic anhydride and 4.5 g. (0.055 mole) of sodium acetate in 150 ml. of acetic acid was heated on a steam bath for one hour, then evaporated. Water and aqueous ammonia was added to the residue until the mixture was basic. The mixture was extracted with methylene chloride, the extracts combined and washed with water, 10% hydrochloric acid, 5% sodium bicarbonate, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. Chromatography of the residue on silica (ethyl acetate) gave 2-acetyl-7-benzylthio-8-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, melting point 94°-95° C.

A solution of 1.2 g. (0.0035 mole) of the above 2-acetyl derivative in 15 ml. of ethanol and 10 ml. of water was treated with 4.2 g. (0.23 mole) of sodium hydrosulfite. The mixture was refluxed for three hours, basified with aqueous ammonia and extracted with methylene chloride. The organic extracts were combined, washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to give 2-acetyl-8-amino-7-benzylthio-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline.

To a solution of 1.5 g. (0.0048 mole) of the above 8-amino-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivative in 15 ml. of 12 N hydrochloric acid and 6 ml. of acetic acid at -10° C. under argon was added 0.52 g. (0.0075 mole) of sodium nitrite in 3 ml. of water. The mixture was stirred for five minutes then added rapidly to 2.3 g. of cuprous chloride in 20 ml. of 12 N hydrochloric acid and heated to 60° for three hours. The mixture was poured over ice, basified with aqueous ammonia and extracted with methylene chloride. The extracts were combined washed with water, dried and concentrated to give the corresponding diazonium salt. The salt was heated with 2.2 g. of cuprous chloride and 40 ml. of 12 N hydrochloric acid for five hours at 60° C., followed by work-up as above to yield 8-acetyl-[1,2,3]thiadiazolo[5,4-h]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline having a melting point of 133°-136° C.

A mixture of 0.15 g. (0.0006 mole) of the above thiadiazolo derivative and 5 ml. of 10% hydrochloric acid was refluxed for three hours and evaporated. The residue was dissolved in water, washed with methylene chloride, basified with aqueous ammonia and again extracted with methylene chloride. The methylene chloride extracts were combined, dried and evaporated. The residue was dissolved in methanol, acidified with hydrochloric acid-ether followed by further dilution with ether. The precipitate was recrystallized from methanol-ether to yield [1,2,3]thiadiazolo[5,4-h]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride having a melting point of 285°-286° C. (dec.).

EXAMPLE 2

A solution of 2.0 g. (0.014 mole) of 7-aminoisoquinoline in 50 ml. of acetic acid was added to 80 ml. of cold sulfur monochloride and stirred for twenty-four hours. The mixture was filtered and the orange solid washed with ether and dried in vacuo to give [1,2,3]dithiazolo[4,5-h]isoquinoline-2-ium chloride hydrochloride, melting point 227°-237° C.

A solution of 2.4 g. (0.009 mole) of the above hydrochloride in 50 ml. of 50% aqueous sulfuric acid was cooled to 0° C. and treated with a solution of 0.97 g. (0.014 mole) of sodium nitrite in 10 ml. of water. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for two hours, poured into ice water, treated with charcoal, filtered, basified with ammonium hydroxide and extracted with ether. The combined ether extracts were dried, treated with charcoal, filtered and partly concentrated to yield [1,2,3]thiadiazolo[4,5-h]isoquinoline, melting point 150°-153° C.

A solution of 0.5 g. (0.003 mole) of the above isoquinoline in 50 ml. of methanol was treated with 1 g. (0.016 mole) of sodium cyanoborohydride and the resulting solution was stirred for twenty-four hours. The pH was maintained at pH 4 by the addition of methanolic hydrogen chloride. The mixture was then treated with excess methanolic hydrogen chloride and concentrated on a steam bath. The residue was dissolved in water, treated with charcoal, filtered and basified with ammonium hydroxide. The basic solution was extracted with ether and the combined extracts were dried, treated with charcoal and filtered. Treatment with ethereal hydrogen chloride gave [1,2,3]thiadiazolo[4,5-h]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride, melting point 284°-285° C.

EXAMPLE 3

A solution of 20.9 g. (0.1 mole) of 2-acetyl-7-chloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline in 100 ml. of concentrated sulfuric acid is treated with 10 g. (0.1 mole) of potassium nitrate dissolved in 150 ml. of concentrated sulfuric acid. The mixture is stirred for one hour, quenched on ice, made alkaline with ammonium hydroxide and filtered to yield 2-acetyl-7-chloro-6-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline.

Treatment of the above tetrahydroisoquinoline with benzylmercaptan and following the procedure of Example 1 yields [1,2,3]thiadiazolo[4,5-g]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinoline.

EXAMPLE 4

Following the procedures of Example 3 and employing 2-acetyl-6-chloro-1,2,2,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline as a starting material yields 2-acetyl-6-chloro-7-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline which is converted to [1,2,3]thiadiazolo-[5,4-g]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinoline.

EXAMPLE 5

Following the procedure of Example 2, 8-aminoisoquinoline was converted to 5-chloro-[1,2,3]dithiazolo-[5,4-h]isoquinoline-2-ium chloride hydrochloride and then to 5-chloro-[1,2,3]thiadiazolo[5,4-h]isoquinoline, melting point, 225°-227° C.

The above thiadiazoloisoquinoline is reduced with sodium cyanoborohydride also following the procedure of Example 2, to give 5-chloro-[1,2,3]thiadiazolo-[5,4-h]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline.

EXAMPLE 6

2-Acetyl-7-amino-8-chloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (2.2 gm., 0.01 mole) is dissolved in a mixture of 10 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid and 20 ml. of water and diazotized by the addition of sodium nitrite (0.7 gm., 0.01 mole) at 3° C. The mixture is stirred for 30 minutes and then treated with sodium carbonate (7.0 gm., 0.065 mole) to a pH of 7. The mixture is extracted with chloroform to give 8-acetyl-[1,2,3]oxadiazolo-[4,5-h]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline on evaporation.

Refluxing with 10% hydrochloric acid, following the procedure of Example 1, gives [1,2,3]oxa-diazolo-[4,5-h]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride.

EXAMPLE 7

Following the procedure of Example 6, 2-acetyl-8-amino-7-chloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline is converted to [1,2,3]-oxadiazolo[5,4-h]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride.

EXAMPLE 8

A mixture of 17.3 g. (0.1 mole) of 7-methoxy-4-methylisoquinoline and 100 ml. of 48% hydrobromic acid is refluxed for sixteen hours and evaporated in vacuo. The residue is dissolved in water, neutralized with ammonium hydroxide and filtered to yield 7-hydroxy-4-methylisoquinoline.

A mixture of 15.9 g. (0.1 mole) of 7-hydroxy-4-methylisoquinoline and 41.7 g. (0.125 mole) of triphenylphosphine dichloride is heated to 230° C. for four hours, cooled, and partitioned between chloroform and concentrated hydrochloric acid. The aqueous phase is neutralized with ammonium hydroxide and extracted with chloroform to yield 7-chloro-4-methylisoquinoline.

A mixture of 17.7 g. (0.1 mole) of 7-chloro-4-methylisoquinoline and 100 ml. of concentrated sulfuric acid is treated with 10 g. (0.1 mole) of potassium nitrate dissolved in 150 ml. of concentrated sulfuric acid. The mixture is stirred for one hour, quenched on ice, made alkaline with ammonium hydroxide and filtered to yield 7-chloro-4-methyl-8-nitroisoquinoline.

Following the procedure of Example 1, 7-chloro-4-methyl-8-nitroisoquinoline is converted to 6-methyl-[1,2,3]-thiadiazolo[5,4-h]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride.

EXAMPLE 9

A solution of 13.6 g. (0.1 mole) of 3-methoxybenzaldehyde and 10.5 g. (0.1 mole) of aminoacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal in 250 ml. of toluene is refluxed for one hour and water produced in the reaction is collected in a Dean-Stark trap. The resulting solution of 3-methoxy-N-(2,2-dimethoxyethyl)benzylidenamine is added to a solution of (0.2 mole) of methylmagnesium iodide in 250 ml. of ether over 1.5 hours. The mixture is stirred for one hour, cooled and quenched by careful addition of 250 ml. of water. The aqueous phase was filtered through Celite, extracted with 150 ml. of ether and the combined organic phases washed, dried and evaporated to yield 3-methoxy-α-methyl-N-(2,2-dimethoxyethyl)benzylamine.

A mixture of 23.9 g. (0.1 mole) of 3-methoxy-α-methyl-N-(2,2-dimethoxyethyl)benzylamine in 100 ml. of dry pyridine is stirred, cooled and treated with a solution of 20.2 g. (0.107 mole) of tosyl chloride in 100 ml. of dry pyridine. The mixture is stirred at 25° C. for three days, poured into 800 ml. of water and extracted with ether. The combined ether extracts are washed with dilute hydrochloric acid and then with water, dried, filtered and evaporated to yield 3-methoxy-α-methyl-N-(2,2-dimethoxyethyl)-N-tosyl-benzylamine.

A mixture of 39.3 g. (0.1 mole) of 3-methoxy-α-methyl-N-(2,2-dimethoxyethyl)-N-tosyl-benzylamine, one liter of dioxane and 80 ml. of 6 N hydrochloric acid is refluxed for six hours and allowed to stand for sixteen hours. The mixture is poured into two liters of water and extracted with ether. The aqueous phase is made alkaline with concentrated ammonium hydroxide and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract is washed, dried and evaporated to yield 7-methoxy-1-methylisoquinoline.

Following the procedures of Example 8, the above isoquinoline is converted to 9-methyl-[1,2,3]thiadiazolo-[5,4-h]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride.

EXAMPLE 10

A solution of 13.6 g. (0.1 mole) of 3-methoxybenzylamine and 11.8 g. (0.1 mole) of pyruvaldehyde dimethyl acetal in 30 ml. of toluene is refluxed for two hours and water formed in the reaction is collected in a Dean-Stark trap. The mixture is evaporated to yield the imine.

A mixture of 2.4 g. (0.01 mole) of the imine and 0.08 g. of platinum oxide in 200 ml. of ethyl acetate is reduced in a hydrogen atmosphere to yield 3-methoxy-N-[2-(1,1-dimethoxypropyl)]benzylamine.

Following the procedures of Example 9, 3-methoxy-N-[2-(1,1-dimethoxypropyl)]benzylamine is converted to 7-methyl-[1,2,3]thiadiazolo[5,4-h]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride.

EXAMPLE 11

A solution of 1.9 g. (0.01 mole) of [1,2,3]thiadiazolo[4,5-h]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline and 4 ml. of 37% aqueous formaldehyde in 15 ml. of acetonitrile is treated with 1 g. (0.016 mole) of sodium cyanoborohydride. The reaction mixture is stirred for fifteen minutes and then glacial acetic acid is added dropwise until the solution is neutral on wet pH paper. Stirring is continued for an additional forty-five minutes, acetic acid being added as needed to maintain the pH near neutrality. The solvent is evaporated, the residue is taken up in 2 N aqueous potassium hydroxide and extracted with ether, which is washed, dried and evaporated to yield 8-methyl-[1,2,3]thiadiazolo[4,5-h]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline.

EXAMPLE 12

Following the procedure of Example 2, 5-aminoisoquinoline and 6-aminoisoquinoline are converted, respectively, to 5-chloro-[1,2,3]thiadiazolo-[4,5-f]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline and [1,2,3]thiadiazolo-[5,4-f]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline.

EXAMPLE 13

Following the procedure of Example 2, 7-amino-8-trifluoromethylisoquinoline and 7-amino-8-chloroisoquinoline are converted to 4-trifluoromethyl-[1,2,3]thiadiazolo-[5,4-g]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinoline and 4-chloro-[1,2,3]-thiadiazolo[5,4-g]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinoline, respectively.

EXAMPLE 14

2-Acetyl-6-chloro-7-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline and 2-acetyl-7-chloro-6-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline are reduced with sodium hydrosulfite by the procedure of Example 1 to yield: 2-acetyl-7-amino-6-chloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline and 2-acetyl-6-amino-7-chloro-1,2,3,4-tetrachloroisoquinoline which are diazotized and neutralized following the procedure of Example 6 to yield: [1,2,3]-oxadiazolo[5,4-g]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinoline and [1,2,3]-oxadiazolo-[4,5-g]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinoline.

EXAMPLE 15

    ______________________________________                                         Ingredients           Amounts                                                  ______________________________________                                         [1,2,3]Thiadiazolo[5,4-h]-6,7,8,9-                                             tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride                                                                 150 mg.                                                  Lactose               350 mg.                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The ingredients are mixed and filled into a hard gelatin capsule.

EXAMPLE 16

    ______________________________________                                         Ingredients              Amounts                                               ______________________________________                                         [1,2,3]Oxadiazolo[5,4-h]-6,7,8,9-                                              tetrahydroisoquinoline   200 mg.                                               Calcium sulfate dihydrate                                                                               150 mg.                                               Sucrose                  25 mg.                                                Starch                   15 mg.                                                Talc                     5 mg.                                                 Stearic Acid             3 mg.                                                 ______________________________________                                    

The calcium sulfate dihydrate, sucrose and the tetrahydroisoquinoline are thoroughly mixed and granulated with 10% gelatin solution. The wet granules are screened, dried and then mixed with the starch, talc and stearic acid, screened and compressed into a tablet.

On tablet is administered three times a day. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of producing alpha₂ antagonist activity which comprises administering to an animal requiring said treatment an amount sufficient to produce said activity a chemical compound of the formula selected from the group consisting of: ##STR4## in which: Y is sulfur or oxygen;when Y is sulfur, X is hydrogen, halogen, or trifluoromethyl, and R and R₁ are hydrogen or lower alkyl of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and when Y is oxygen, X, R and R₁ are hydrogen;or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof.
 2. The method of claim 1 in which Y is sulfur.
 3. The method of claim 1 in which Y is oxygen.
 4. The method of claim 2 in which X, R and R₁ are hydrogen having the formula of I or II.
 5. The method of claim 4 in which the compound is [1,2,3]-thiadiazolo[5,4-h]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline.
 6. The method of claim 4 in which the compound is [1,2,3]-thiadiazolo[4,5-h]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroisoquinoline.
 7. The method of claim 1 which comprises administering a dosage unit containing from about 50 mg. to about 1000 mg. 